2013 Heritage vs. Vintage #12 – Stars from today

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After a week layoff, I’m back to my Heritage comparisons. Right now Heritage is leading 23-19 over 1964 Topps. We’ll see how that stacks up. I think I’m going to do this post and 3 more after that – a round 15 total. Today’s theme is to pick a few stars from today’s game and check on their card counterparts from 1964. Hopefully I’ll have a few more valid comparisons – i.e., same position from the same team.

Card #447 – Felix Hernandez / Ted Bowsfield

I’m starting with King Felix because he’s the sponsor for this product (he’s on the front of the product packaging). Topps didn’t really have a sponsor on the front in 1964 (it was Stan Musial in 1963).

Hernandez’s card has a trivia questions I’ve already posted on.

Unfortunately, Topps didn’t put Felix on a card the equivalent of someone like Musial or even someone like Whitey Ford or someone like Camilo Pascual who would have been a great nod to Latin Heritage. The Mariners didn’t exist in 1964, so there isn’t any way to match him up with the same team. Topps did at least pick a fellow pitcher. Topps paired Hernandez with Ted Bowsfield, who like King Felix was not born in America – Bowsfield is Canadian. Bowsfield was a starter for a few years in the majors, but his career never really took off after stints with Boston, the Angels, and as pictured here, the Kansas City Athletics.

Trivia question: What’s the name and site of the Reds’ ballpark?

Trivia answer: Crosley Field at Findlay and Western.

Winner

The Felix card is a hideous picture. And I’m a sucker for the old Kansas City A’s uniforms – the Bowsfield card is much better.

2013 Heritage leads, 23-20

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Card #425 – Joey Votto / Norm Cash

I hope Votto is able to come back from his injury last year. If you take all the games since he returned in September, his OBP is higher than his slugging percentage. Considerably higher. That’s not a good sign – sooner or later pitchers will stop pitching around him if he can’t do any damage.

Trivia question: Which Hall of Famer won the first award for top DH?

Trivia answer: Orlando Cepeda, Boston Red Sox 1973.

These two guys aren’t from the same team, but Votto to Cash is actually a pretty good comparison. First baseman. Perennial all-star caliber players with 20-30 homer pop. Votto is probably the better overall player in his best seasons. He certainly gets on base more, especially if you take away Cash’s incredible 1961 season where he won the batting and OBP titles (and never again hit above .300 or had an OBP above .400). Cash had a long distinguished career and Votto is still young.

Trivia question: When was the first pinch hitter used?

Trivia answer: In 1892.

Winner:

I have a hard time picking against any Reds player, particularly Votto. But the Cash picture is pretty cool. I don’t think Cash was probably one to bunt much, but it’s so much better than the super up-close head shot of Votto. At least Votto has a hat on. So that’s good to showcase that Reds logo. I’ll go with a tie here.

2013 Heritage leads, 23.5-20.5

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Card #340 – Paul Konerko / Joe Cunningham

YES!!! Finally, a card that matches up exactly! The White Sox first baseman from 2013. And the White Sox first baseman from 1964!

Konerko is an underrated stud. His numbers are really getting into Hall of Fame territory – he has had incredible consistency, and a couple of great seasons where he was borderline MVP-worthy. I think he’d need a few more really good years to get there, but it’s certainly feasible and the bottom line is that he’s underrated. He doesn’t have a trivia question on his card.

Konerko’s had such a long career that his stats on the back don’t leave any room for a trivia question!

Cunningham wasn’t nearly the caliber player that Konerko has been, but he did win the OBP title one year. And he had a solid career for over a decade.

Trivia question: Which pitcher holds the career strikeout record?

Trivia answer: Walter Johnson, 3,509. Since broken by Nolan Ryan, who also briefly relinquished the crown to Steve Carlton before finishing his career with over 5,700 K’s.

Winner:

I kind of want to give Heritage some credit here for finally getting a matchup of the same position and the same team. Plus, the Konerko card is a decent photo. But I also really like the Cunningham photo. He looks completely confused. Like he couldn’t understand what the hell the photographer was doing. He just seems like he’s saying “huh”? “you want me to stand where”? I’m going with another tie here.

2013 Heritage leads, 24-21

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Card #350 – Matt Cain / Willie McCovey

OK, not quite the comparison we could have had – I think Juan Marichal would have been a better for the Giants’ ace. Ryan Vogelsong got that matchup. But Cain would have been more appropriate – both Cain and Marichal were coming off of Cy Young caliber seasons when these cards were released.

Cain has always been one of my favorite pitchers. I don’t know why – I think he was on my fantasy baseball team a few years ago. Cain’s trivia question is one I’ve already featured.

Cain sure had a good year in 2012, but Stretch had a monster year in 1963 – so Stretch was a young hot commodity at the time this card came out. McCovey led the league with 44 homers in a breakout season after a few seasons as a 18-20 homer guy.

Trivia question: Who led the Indians in batting in 1963?

Trivia answer: Vic Davalillo .292.

Winner:

As mentioned, I’ve always been a fan of Cain. Neither picture is great – they’re both of that annoying close-up variety. Cain’s is kind of bad – not what I’d call great photography; he’s squinting because he’s looking into the sun. At least that’s what I think. McCovey looks a lot more cool, calm and collected. So I’ve got to give stretch the narrow victory.